Few artists can claim to have created a genre all their own, but Kentucky-born musician Bill Monroe(Sep. 13, 1911 – Sep. 9, 1996) did exactly that when he added North Carolina banjo prodigy Earl Scruggs to his traditional stringband in 1945. Known as the Blue Grass Boys, Monroe and Scruggs, alongside singer/guitarist Lester Flatt, fiddler Chubby Wise and bassist Howard Watts, forged new ground, not only creating an entirely unique genre of American music, but forever changing the course of American rock-and-roll with one of their most famous songs, "Blue Moon of Kentucky" - an early hit for an up-and-coming young musician named Elvis Presley.

More than a century after his birth on a small farm in Kentucky, Monroe's music remains the canon for traditional bluegrass masters and the inspiration for generations of bluegrass-inspired musicians.

PROGRAM UPDATE (11/28/12): Due to an illness, Tony Rice has had to cancel all of his appearances this week. We wish him well in his recovery and welcome guitarist Cody Kilby of Kentucky Thunder in his place. Kilby, a lighting-fast National Flatpicking Champion, has played alongside Ricky Skaggs for more than a decade and represents the newest generation of professional Bluegrass masters.

Artist Biographies

Peter Rowan

In 1965, a young Peter Rowan joined Bill Monroe &
The Blue Grass Boys, recording fourteen songs with Monroe before leaving
the band in 1967. Peter went on to become a Grammy-award winner and
six-time Grammy nominee with a career spanning over five decades. From
his early years playing under the tutelage of bluegrass patriarch Bill
Monroe, and following his stint in Old & In the Way with Jerry
Garcia and subsequent breakout as both a solo performer and bandleader,
Rowan has built a devoted, international fan base through his continuous
stream of original recordings, collaborative projects, and constant
touring.

The Travelin' McCourys

The Travelin’ McCourys do not stand still. They are on
the road entertaining audiences with live shows that include some of the
best musicians and singers from all genres. It’s always different,
always exciting, and always great music.
No other band today has the same credentials for playing traditional and
progressive music. As the sons of bluegrass legend Del McCoury, Ronnie
McCoury on mandolin and Rob McCoury on banjo continue their father’s
work—a lifelong dedication to the power of bluegrass music to bring joy
into people’s lives. And with fiddler Jason Carter and bassist Alan
Bartram, the ensemble is loved and respected by the bluegrass faithful.
But the band is now combining their sound with others to make something
fresh and rejuvenating.

*UNCW student tickets must be purchased in person
at the box office and are subject to availability; limit one per
student; valid photo id required at time of purchase and upon entry to
the performance.